Throttle control device



INVENTOR: EDwARunJoHNsoN ATTORNEY.

E. D. JOHNSON THROTTLE: CONTROL DEVICE Filed April 2s, 1947 Oct. 14, 1952 Patented Oct. 14, 1952 THROTTLE CONTROL DEVICE Edward D. Johnson, St. Louis, Mo.,' assignor to Wagner Electric Corporation, St. Louis, Mo., a

corporation of Delaware Application April 23, 1947, Serial No. 743,353

Claims. 1

. This invention relates to automatically operated devices for actuating the throttle for an automotive engine during power transmission ratio changes and the object of the invention is to provide a device which will operate the throttle in a proper manner by rst quickly partially opening the throttle to increase the engine speed before the clutch is engaged and thereafter slowly continuing the opening movement of the throttle to bring the engine up to a desired speed. v

In thedrawings Figure 1 is an end view of the throttle operating device; and

Figure 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the device taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1 and connected to a throttle valve and a control valve schematically illustrated.

The throttle actuating pressure fluid device comprises a housing I to which a cap 2 `is removably secured by a plurality of screws 3. The` closure 4 for the cylinder in housing I is a diaphragm which is clamped between housing I and cap 2. A piston 5 in the cylinder is provided with Ia sealing cup 6 on its one end secured thereto by means of a washer and a screw l. Apiston rod' is secured to the other end of the piston and extends through bore 9 of housing I. A spring Il] for returning the piston to the illustrated position is interposed between piston 5 and housing I and surrounds piston rod 8 with one end of the spring engaging shoulder Il. A nut I2 is threaded onto the exposed end of piston rod 8 for the purpose of adjusting the extent of return movement of piston 5.

A throttle or butterfly valve I3 is pivotally mounted in the'intake I4 for the manifold of an engine. Valve I3 is operatively connected to v piston rod through linkage I5 and a suitable bell-crank I6. The throttle valve is normally manually controlled and the fluid pressure operateddevice is operative only during a -speed ratio change period and the period immediately subsequent thereto and overrides the action of the manual control during these Ytwo periods, as is well known in the art.

The housing I and cap 2 are each provided with finished diaphragm motion limiting abutment surfaces I'I and |8 which cooperate with 4diaphragm reinforcing discs I9 and 20, respectively. vA spring 2| disposed in chamber 22 causes diaphragm 4 to normally assume the position shown wherein disc I9 engages surface I1.

Diaphragm iassembly 4, I9 and 20 is provided with a cylinder chamber exhaust check valve as- ;sembly `23 which is engageable with seat 23h.

The valve A23 is maintained in seated position by spring 23a. and has a bleeder passageway 24 which establishes communication between cap chamber 22 and cylinder chamber 25.

Cap 2 is provided with a port 26 to which one end of a conduit 2l is connected that terminates in chamber 28 of valve housing 29' for the inlet and exhaust control valves for the throttle operating device. The valve housing is provided with a valve seat 3| which is engaged byinlet valve 33 mounted on member 34. Exhaust valve 32 is also mounted on member 34 and is engageable with a seat 33 provided on plunger 36. Suitable seals (not shown) may be provided for plunger 36. Plunger spring 35 is arranged between plunger 36 and the valve housing to normally position plunger 3'6 as'illustrated.. Aspring 31 is provided in chamber 38 to maintainvalve 33 in normally closed position. A solenoid'38 constitutes the means for actuating plunger 36. The passageway through plunger 36 constitutes the exhaust port for the throttle actuating device. Port 40 in housing 29 is connected to a suitable source of supply of .pressure iiuid by means of conduit 4 I. l.

Referring now to the operation of the device, a variation of engine and vehicle speed initiates a power transmission ratio shift cycle. Solenoid 39 is connected in la circuit opened and closed by a switch controlled byl any suitable means responsive vtoengine or vehicle speed changes.. When energized it moves plunger 36 to the right so that it seats ball valve 32 on seat 38 and thereafter unseats valve 33 from seat 3| permitting pressure fluid to enter cylinder chamber 25 by way of conduit 2l', chamber 22 and valve 23. Pressure fluid in chamber 25 forces piston 5 to the left, compressing spring I0 and closing the throttle or buttery valve I3. v

It is essential to theproper operation of the device that the diaphragm 4 undergo a displacement or change in position before the full eiect of the pressure iiuid enteringv the cylinder chamber 25 through the check valve 23 can move the piston 5. This displacement is assured by the spring 2|. During the period that the throttle isvclosed, the necessary gear or speed ratio selection is accomplished. The engine or vehicle speed responsive means thereafter causes sole.- noid 39 tobe de-energized, thus enabling spring 35 to restore plunger 3E to the position indicated in Figure2,` thereby providing an 4outlet or discharge to atmosphere for the pressure fluid in chamber 22,l and spring 3'lsimulta-neously. seats inlet valve 33 on seat 3|. y

The sudden opening of the exhaust port 30 releases the fluid in the cap chamber 22fquickly which just as quickly drops the pressure in the chamber 22. The effect of this pressure drop on the cap side of the diaphragm 4 is to allow the pressure uid in the cylinder chamber 25 to quickly expand the volume of that chamber. This pressure difference occurs before the inertia of the iiuid in chamber 25 can be overcome andilow started in the restricted port 24, therebyY producing the desired'force in chamber 25 which snaps diaphragm 4 to the right, forcing disc 20 into engagement with surface I8 and compressing spring 2l, Chamber 2 5 is, therefore, enlarged which reduces the pressure ofthe pressure fluid entrapped in chamber 25.

The reduction in pressure in this chamber releases the stored energy of compressed spring l to snap piston 5 rapidly to the right until the spring pressure and the pressure of the entrapped fluid yare in balance to quickly partiallyopen thel throttle valve. This snap action movement is of suiicient magnitude to actuate an accelerating well associated with the carburetor and closely approximates the initial phase of a proper driver operation. The clutch for the vehicle transmission is now engaged and the spring I0 slowly forces entr-apped pressure uid in .enlarged chamber 25 through the bleeder passageway 24 so that the` remainder of the return stroke of piston 5 is controlled and imparts a gradual increase in fuel and, therefore, speed to the engine and vehicle which closely approximates theV nall phase of proper driveroperation. Spring 2| returnsthe diaphragm to the position shown in Figure 2 as the pressure in chamber 25 decreases to a value equalto the pressure in chamber 2 2.

Having Afully described my invention, that which; claim as novel and desire to protect by Letters,l Patent ofi-theu United States is:

1. A control device comprising a cylinder; a piston in said cylinder forming a chamber in one end thereof; a flexible diaphragm engageable with and forming a closure for said cylinder; a cap.` secured to said cylinder, the interposed flexible diaphragm being engageable with and forming a.. chamber in the cap; a valve assembly disposed between said chambers for allowing pressure iiuid to rapidly pass from said cap'` kchamber to the chamber in said cylinder and having an orice therein for causing slowl return of pressure uid between the chamber in said cylinder and said cap chamber; a biasing spring for positioning said piston adjacent said diaphragm; a second biasing spring for displacing said diaphragm to a position adjacent the endof said cylinder; a source of pressure iiuid; a conduit for placing said source in communication with saidcap chamber; and an alternately operable inlet and exhaust valve mechanism disposed in said conduit for controlling the ow of pressure uid from said source to said cap` chamber, and subsequently to said chamber in said cylinder through said valve assembly for moving said piston to compress and store energy in said first mentioned biasing spring, said combined inlet and exhaust valve mechanism being operable under predetermined conditions'for releasing the pressure iiuid in said second mentioned chamber, thereby allowing said diaphragm to be displaced from adjacent the end cfsaid cylinder against the force of said second phragm to restore the pressure and volume, and a slow leak-off of pressure fluid from said cylinder chamber through said orifice and said valve mechanism to allow said piston and said diaphragm to slowly assume their original positions.

2. A control device comprising a cylinder; a piston in said cylinder; a diaphragm over one end of-said cylinder forming a iiexible closure for the cylinder and'in connection with said piston forming a chamber in the cylinder; a cap over said diaphragm forming a cap chamber; a spring acting on said piston for holding said piston adjacent said diaphragm; a source of pressure fluid; means for establishing communication between said source and1 said chamber; a valve in said 1 diaphragm provided with a bleeder passageway;

biasing spring thus tending to increase'the volume of and diminish the pressure in the chamber in said cylinder thereby releasing the energy stored in the compressed spring and allowing rapid movement of said pistonr toward said diaa second valve for applying pressure iiuid from said source to the cap chamber side of said diaphragm, said pressure fluid opening said first mentioned valve and entering said cylinder chamber for actuating the piston away from the said one end of said cylinder thereby energizing said piston spring; and an exhaust valve for releasing pressure fluid from; said capV chamber, said diaphragm rapidly moving away from said piston so that the pressure fluid in said piston chamber undergoes a pressure decreasel rapidly, thereby permitting said piston spring to quickly partially return said piston toward the diaphragm and restore the pressure level in said cylinder chamber, said spring thereafter causing said piston to force the pressure iiuid from said cylinder chamber through said bleeder passageway, for causing the piston to slowly continue its movement toward the diaphragm.

3. A valve operating device comprising a cylin-. der; a piston in said cylinder; a spring for maintaining said pistonv in one end of said cylinder; a diaphragm secured to said cylinder for closing the end thereof adjacent said piston thereby forming a chamber in one end of said cylinder; a cap over said diaphragm deiining a cap chamber therewith, resilient means normally displacing .said diaphragm toward said piston; a source of pressure fluid; means for establishing communication between said source and said cap chamber; a valve for admitting pressure fluid from said source into said chamber for moving said piston toward the other end of said cylinder, thereby energizing said spring; check valve meansin said diaphragm permitting rapid pressure increases in said cylinder chamber andrelatively slow pressure decreases therein for causing said diaphragm to rapidly change its position upon decreases of pressure in said cap chamber, thereby enabling said spring to quickly partially return said piston toward said diaphragm; and exhaust valve means for regulating the exhaust of pressure fluid from said cap chamber for permitting said spring to rapidly and then more slowly complete the return movement of said piston toward said diaphragm.

4. A control device comprising ya cylinder; a piston in said cylinder; a biasingv spring for maintaining said piston normally in one position; a iiexible closure for one end of said cylinder and in cooperation with said piston forming a cylinder chamber in said cylinder; cover means for securing said closure to saidcylinder and forming a cover chamber with the closure; a spring for biasing said closure to a position adjacent said piston; a source of pressure fluid; means for establishing communication between said source and said cover chamber; a valve for regulating .the supply of pressure fluid to said cover chamber; a second valve in said closure for admitting said pressure fluid to said cylinder chamber for moving said piston towardthe other end of said cylinder for energizing said piston biasing spring; and an exhaust valve for releasing pressure iiuid from said cover chamber thereby rapidly creating a pressure differential on opposite sides of said closure and causing the pressure fluid in said cylinder chamber to move said closure rapidly away from the piston and compress said spring, thereby permitting said energized piston biasing spring to quickly move said piston partially toward its initial position; said second mentioned valve having an orilice therein for allowing pressure iiuid in said cylinder chamber to escape at a xed rate and said piston biasing spring to slowly complete the movement of said piston to its initial position said closure biasing spring restoring the closure to its initial position adjacent the end of the position upon the fall of pressure in said cylinder chamber.

5. A control device comprising a cylinder, a closure cap for one end of said cylinder, a flexible diaphragm under said cap dividing the space into a cylinder chamber and a cap chamber, spring means normally urging said diaphragm toward said cylinder chamber, a check valve in said diaphragm opening to said cylinder chamber, said check valve having a bleed passage open between said chambers, a spring pressed piston in said cylinder normally adjacent said diaphragm, a piston rod for said piston extending from said cylinder to transmit a control movement derived from said piston, a source of iiuid under pressure,

and a fluid flow control valve mechanism connected with said control device and positionable to direct iiuid into said cap chamber from said source to fix the position of said diaphragm adjacent said cylinder chamber and to supply fluid through said check valve to said cylinder chamber to drive said piston outwardly in the cylinder relative to said diaphragm and move said piston rod, said control valve mechanism having a fluid exhaust position to initially exhaust said cap chamber and cause a pressure diiierential across said diaphragm to suddenly displace said diaphragm and simultaneously cause following displacement of said spring pressed piston.

EDWARD D. JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 577,489 Mills Feb. 23, 1897 2,047,581 Grissett July 14, 1936. 2,077,775 Schimanek Apr. 20, 1937 2,367,852 Eaton Jan. 23, 1945 

